(Courtesy of YU) How can we help non-profits that need help amidst the current crisis, and how can our students get substantive summer experiences despite the wave of cancellations of summer internships?
Right now, Yeshiva University is launching the YU Consulting Force, a new opportunity for our most talented and dedicated students to gain real-world experience by working on group projects for major non-profit organizations.
We are currently seeking substantive projects that will enable our best students to assist your organizations this summer. The Consulting Force will consist of multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., a marketing major, a computer-science major and a finance major) working under the guidance of faculty and mentors.
Learn, Practice, Contribute
YU alumni and experts who are working at top consulting firms, including Accenture and Deloitte, will teach the students how to complete successful projects. They will cover project management, client management, virtual teamwork and other relevant topics. The students will develop their new skills in a simulated environment and compete in a case-study competition. They will then be matched with organizations that have well-defined projects for them.
To ensure high-quality results, throughout the project oversight will come from three complementary parties:
• A YU faculty member will oversee teams working on related projects.
• YU alumni or other friends of the school will mentor each team.
• The designated project lead at the client organization will regularly interact with the team.
What You Commit to Do
Given the current financial conditions in which many organizations find themselves, there is no need to pay the students for their work. In lieu of pay, the students will receive academic credit from the university. Projects will ideally begin in late June, after the three weeks of expert training, and last for six weeks.
Organizations seeking assistance from the YU Consulting Force will need to commit to the following items:
• A substantive project that will have an impact on your organization.
• A well-defined deliverable (report, presentation etc.) for the students to complete.
• Clear, concrete and achievable learning objectives/goals for the students.
• Most important, a project lead in your organization who will commit the time needed to orient the students in the beginning, conduct regular check-ins with the team and answer questions that arise throughout the project.
Potential Project Topics
We are open to your suggestions about what project would be most useful for your organization, but potential topics could include:
• Strategizing about and implementing external messaging and marketing (social media, online newsletters etc.)
• Strategies for strengthening alumni or donor relationships
• Developing your approach to management training or professional development
• Compiling a database of existing online resources relevant to your organization
• Performing curriculum research and development
• Assessing opportunities to improve your back-office infrastructure, and possibly strengthening it with a programming project
• Researching new sources of funding (development, foundations, grant writing)
- If you have a potential project that fulfills the requirements above, please complete the application at yu.edu/summer2020.
- If you would like to mentor YU students who are doing consulting projects or internships, please let me know at [email protected].
